Mental health and technology

Dr Eva Cyhlarova Head of Research

Elise Leclerc Communications and Involvement Manager

We all have mental health!

•  Think about MH as a continuum •  People with mental health diagnoses are just people •  There is usually not a quick fix •  Be aware of stigma

•  1. problems of knowledge (ignorance) •  2. problems of attitudes (prejudice) •  3. problems of behaviour (discrimination)

•  Need to change behaviour, not just attitudes •  E.g. talking therapies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

(CBT, c-CBT)

•  Become more mindful with work

•  Engage better with people

•  Reduce stress, anxiety or depression

       

Reasons to learn mindfulness online

“Every £1 spent on employee wellbeing saves £1.96 in the short term and £3.07 in the long term” (Knapp, McDaid and Parsonage, 2011)

•  Four weeks •  Ten online sessions •  Five audio downloads •  Twelve assignments

to practice •  Six downloadable handouts •  Online tools to view your progress •  Aftercare pack by post

The course

Stress, depression and anxiety

•  Planned with single parents, BME groups, prisoners…..

 

Self-management training

•  Planning, problem solving, goal setting

•  Developed by people with mental illness

 

Evaluation of self-management

•  Wellbeing •  Functional living skills •  Goal achievement

•  Cost-effectiveness

•  Baseline •  6 months •  12 months

Reasons for employing people with Asperger syndrome (AS)

•  Above average in certain skills, particularly technology, finance, mathematics, music

•  Can be excellent with detail and focus •  Independent thinking – unique contribution •  Benefits of a diverse workforce

Aims of projects

•  To train staff to be tolerant of difference •  To use reasonable adjustments •  To develop skill in communicating and supporting

people with AS •  To offer mentoring to people with AS & managers

+ budding scheme Novartis Goldman Sachs European Space Agency

Digital tools to support young people’s mental health  •  Partnership of 4 funders and

young people at board level •  Co-design with young people,

designers and mental health/youth professionals

•  2 ‘ideation’ physical events separated by an online incubation period

Innovation labs: Phase 1

•  Winnowing down from 194 ideas to 8 •  ‘Enabling technology’: conducting existing practice in a

more efficient way (e.g. computer assisted/online CBT) •  ‘Transformative technology’: changing the locus of

control for care (Mind’s Eye, Mini Me, Doc Ready) •  Access to information •  Peer support •  Crowd-sourcing •  Individuals and therapists: challenge of dissemination of

innovation •  Cost-effectiveness

Innovation labs: Phase 2

Challenges technology should address in a MH context

•  Better understanding of triggers and causes for mental health problems

•  Feeling in control •  Access (to information, to training, to care) •  Anonymity/confidentiality (stigma remains one of

the main reasons for seeking help online) •  Cost-effectiveness •  Appeal and motivation for specific target groups

(e.g. CYP)

Things to think about

•  Change the locus of control •  Quality & effectiveness •  Safety & safeguarding •  Confidentiality •  Access & inequalities •  Peer support •  Efficiency (increasing disease burden and

decreasing resources)

Eva Cyhlarova ecyhlarova@mentalhealth.org.uk

Contact

Elise Leclerc eleclerc@mentalhealth.org.uk

www.mentalhealth.org.uk